South Yuba Trail - Nevada City, CA
Distance: 19 miles. Time: 3 hrs, 30 min. Black Bear Sighting: 1. Poison Oak: Lots. Scenery: Awesome. This month we travel to the South Yuba Trail outside of Nevada City, California. Flowing to the West from the Sierra Nevada Foothills into California’s Great Central Valley, this pristine river cuts a deep and isolated canyon out of the rugged, gold-laden terrain. The first adventurers here sought gold over 150 years ago and even today the occasional individual claim still operates. The 20+ mile South Yuba Trail is a bench cut, hillside traverse along the river’s edge, sometimes close to the water, and other times several hundred feet above gushing clear rapids along ledges that seem precarious. We thought we’d go see for ourselves. July 2008 - On our approach into Sacramento International Airport, the Southwest 737 descended through a thick haze under an eerie, yellow sun. As all of Northern California lay shrouded under smoke from the worst wildfire season in recorded history, we wondered if the unhealthful air quality would impede or even quash our trip. After grabbing the large duffle bag full of bike gear and commandeering the cheap rental car, we headed east on I-80, then North onto Highway 49 along gold mining country. An hour after leaving the airport we pull off to Nevada City and find our hotel (Nevada City Inn, 530-265-2253), which is perfect since it’s close to the bike shop and has reasonable rates. There’s an IGA within walking distance that has all the Clif Bars, Jerky, Electrolytes and Distilled Water a rider needs. Next day we head to Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop (530-265-2187) to pick up our Specialized FSR rental. Thank goodness it fits into this piece of junk car we’re driving. The guys at the shop were very friendly, helpful and knowledgeable and they laid out the route for us on a map. To get to the trailhead, we get back on Highway 49 and head North towards Downieville and turn right onto North Bloomfield Road just a few miles outside Nevada City. Follow N. Bloomfield for 10 or so miles through windy mountain terrain and it eventually drops down into a steep canyon where you cross the South Fork of the Yuba River on a wooden double track bridge. Follow the road, now dirt, a few miles up the other side of the canyon, past the signs for Grizzly Road until you come to the South Yuba Trailhead parking lot, also next to the campsite entrance. Get on your bike and start your climb here on N. Bloomfield Rd. (the road you came in on), which is really a dirt fire road thru National Forest at this point. After a couple of miles, you will pass Lake City, the now empty site of an old mining town designated only by a sign and some tamed ranchland. Continue on for another mile or so towards Malakoff Diggins State Park and you will come to the Rim Trail on your left. Cut off here for your first single-track of the ride. This is a fun, undulating piece that skirts the backside of the State Park. It is remote here, and after passing several piles of bear crap, we were treated to an encounter with a 250 lb-ish black bear who scrambled across the trail about 70 feet ahead, presumably fleeing our approach. Soon after your bear sighting (if you’re lucky enough) or after about 3 miles on Rim Trail, you’ll come out into a campground. Find the exit and turn right (downhill) onto N. Bloomfield Rd. again (now paved) for about a mile until you come to another old mining town called Park Town, which actually has historic buildings to see. In Park Town, turn left onto Relief Hill Rd. at the old Drug Store building and climb on this dirt fire road for a little less than a mile until you see a sign for the Missouri Bar Trail on the right. Now you will be on single-track for the rest of the ride. Missouri Bar drops almost a thousand feet over a mile and a half down the Yuba Canyon to meet the South Yuba Trail at the river. You’ll be on your brakes the whole time, but the trail is smooth and fun. Watch for Poison Oak from this point on until the ride is over. My only beef about this trail is that Poison Oak is everywhere, so be careful what you brush against along the trailside. As you come out of Missouri Bar, you’ll see and hear the roaring river upon approaching the T-intersection. Congratulations, you’re now on the South Yuba Trail proper. Turn right to follow the trail downstream. This section is about 10 miles of bench cut single-track along very, very steep hillsides above the river. Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate the views and the raging whitewater below as you’re so focused on the trail, but the canyon is rugged and the water clear. There are no lengthy climbs or downhill sections as you make your way along, just good, windy undulations that flow pretty nicely, all the while making a steady descent with the river. There will be a couple of opportunities to go for a swim as the trail comes close to the water. As you do so, beware that at least one spot is controlled by a modern-day prospector with a legitimate government claim to pan for gold, but you will see the signs for this clearly, so it’s easy to avoid. Other sections will beckon you to savor the view from on high, standing several hundred feet above the river and looking down the length of the winding canyon in both directions. I should mention that there are three or four spots along this stretch that have rather precarious drop-offs down the canyon. You will find, however, that these are all short spans of fifteen-to-twenty feet which can be maneuvered in the saddle by staying focused on the trail and riding thru them. I rode past all but one of these, and in each case I didn’t realize the drop until I was already halfway thru the “danger zone”. It’s really not that bad. Shortly after you pass thru a primitive, riverside campground, you will reach a rocky section down near the river which requires hauling your bike, but it’s very walk-able and doesn’t last long. Once thru this, look for the junction to Humbug Trail as your next landmark, but stay on South Yuba Trail, continuing downstream past one or two trail spurs for scenic viewpoints and picnic spots. Eventually you will reach the campground which brings you back up to the parking lot where you began. While on the River section of the trail, there are very few signs or markers. However, if you ever feel lost, remember you simply follow the trail downstream in the direction of the river and you would eventually come to either the trailhead or the bridge crossing at N. Bloomfield Rd. Finally, if you rent a bike like I did, try to get one with disc brakes. My V-brakes were a little sketchy on the drop down Missouri Bar. |
Ride Images
Looking Down South Yuba River Canyon
Benchcut Singetrack on South Yuba River Trail
Rent a Bike Here
Intersection of N. Bloomfield Rd. and Relief Hill Rd. in Park Town
Modern Gold Panning Operation on the South Yuba River
Swimming Hole in the South Yuba River |
